Pak flood situation remains grim, heavy rains predicted for today

Published: Sunday, August 8, 2010, 11:38 [IST]

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Lahore, Aug.8 (ANI): Heavy monsoon rains are expected to lash Khyber Pakhtukhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan today (Sunday) to make matters worse in the region that has been witnessing widescale destruction due to flash floods.

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) has also warned of moderate to heavy rains in some areas of Sindh, Punjab and northwest Balochistan.

"The situation has become grave. There are floods in the rivers and the rain is not going to stop in the next 48 hours," The Dawn quoted FFD director Hazrat Mir, as saying.

Mir also warned of steep rise in the water level of Indus River from Sukkur to Kotri in Sindh.

"Water will spread to low-lying and riverine areas along the river and affect human life and property," he said.

The United Nations (UN) has estimated that the deluge, which is being described as the worst in the last 80 years, has affected over four million people and killed over 1600.

Relief and rescue work has been hit badly by continuous rains, particularly in the north western region.

According to officials, water from swollen rivers has also entered occupied Kashmir, where more than 130 people have reportedly been killed. Some parts of Punjab are said to be under six feet of water.

The world famous ancient remains of Mohenjodaro are also under threat from the swollen Indus River in the Sindh province.

Over 900,000 cusecs of water is expected to enter Sindh through the Indus River raising fears over the safety of Mohenjodaro, which was declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations (UN) in 1980. (ANI)